Decoding system



Oct 1945. M. H. LOUGHRIDGE 2,337,850

DECODING SYSTEM Filed NOV. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H u ulluuuwfiifijfiiii 1945- M. H. LOUGHRIDGE 2,387,350

DECODING SYSTEM I Filed Nov. 5, 1941 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

1945. M. H. LOUGHRIDGE ,38

IDECODING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I lluira'rezis INVEN TOR.

h 1945- M. H. LOUGHRIDGE 2,337,350

DECODING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tens Uri/f5 Patented on. so, 1945 2,387,850

DECODING SYSTEM Matthew B. Loughridge, Bogota, N. 1.; William R.

Lockridge, administrator of Matthew H. Loughridge, deceased Application November 5, 1941, Serial No. 417,969

19 Claims. (01. 177-353) This invention relates to direct decoding systems and its purpose is to translate a code into readable characters corresponding to the charactors from which the code was produced. Codin: systems are used commercially in a variety -of forms and one form extensively in use uses a scanner system of decoding; that is, a scanner is made according to the code to be obtained and then all the codes of a group are compared with this scanner until a matching code is found, the code systems are shown:

which is the answer to the scanner. The present (a) A separate code for each code translating invention takes any code by itself and translates device, one character only being used at a time; this code directly into the subject from which the (b) A separate code for each translating decode originated. As coding systems are usually vice operating progressively to register in units, applied to a large number or documents or simtens, hundreds, etc.;

ilar articles, each of which is indexed by a differ- (c) A code having a single base with three ent code, it is apparent that in direct decoding characters located on the base .to establish the the system must be capable of producing indicode and operating a plurality of translating devidual answers corresponding with the capacity vices;

oi the code. An object of the present invention (d) A code having a main base with a plurality is to secure these answers in a coded system in a of characters located thereon, one being in assimple arrangement of apparatus which may be sending order relative to the other and a suppleoperated electrically, or mechanically, or by a mentary base having a code character thereon combination of both. A further object of the inin descending order, relative to one of the charvention is to provide for decoding systems that acters on the main base operating translating difler from each other in the arrangement of means for decoding.

the code. For the purpose of app ing this invention, any

Other objects oi the invention and the operaof the commercial rrangements of coding may tlon of the systems will be more particularly unbe used, one form of which is shown in applicaderstood from the following specification and the tion Serial No. 248,894, filed December 31, 1938, accompanying drawings, in which: now Patent 2,269,293, Jan. 6, 1942. In the ar- Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are graphic representations of rangement shown it is only necessary that the one form of code which, numerically, codes units, c de to be decoded establishes Operating circuits tens andhundreds; for a bank of relays which operates the decoding Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric apparatus app ra us. n the drawings, one side only of the and circuits used to decode Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and operating circuit is shown as this is sufficient to produce the answer by rotary translating devices; show the method of control.

Fig, 51s another form of cod i A device known as a motorstat, as shown in Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the electric apapplication Serial No. 282,833, filed July 4, 1939,- paratus with the translating devices used to deor shown in Serial No. 315,300, filed January 24, odeth c0de1nF1g 5; 1940, is used as the translating device operated Fis. 7 is another form of code, and y th ntr llin r lays to give the decoding an- Fig, 8 1 an arrangement of electric circuits swer. This apparatus is used because it operates for operating decoding devices for the code in t rough an air sap ut a m chanical mech- 7; anism which simplifies the operation and reduces Fig.9is another -form or code; the cost There m y be, of course, conditions Fig, 10 i a d supplementary t 9 and arise where some of the commercial form of tabu- Fig. 11 is a diagram of the electric circuits used latins a i would be qui ed instead of this for decoding the codes in Figs. 9 and 10. translating vi e- In the drawings, the code system is developed An important consideration n applying this graphically for each circuit so that the operation invention is the base of the c e system. In the can be readily followed from the arrangement drawings t e is limited to 10 and the movof squares. 'The code system has a base indiable characters ihereon forming the c de is limcated at t end by th numerals zero t nine ited to 3. The capacity of a code of this type elusive and the reading of the code is Dbtamed and the method of expanding it is described in from the longitudinal lines on the base projected from each numeral. Cross lines are provided with a circle thereon to indicate the position in the base or the code in which a code impulse is produced. These positions are indicated by the numerals along the edge of the graph representing the code, making an ,easy method of designating the code.

The following variations in the application of application Serial No. 205,186 filed April 30, 1938, now Patent 2,266,779, Dec. 23, 1941. The present code system and the circuits associated therewith can be expanded in a similar manner and iare fully contemplated in the present inven- The base of the code is numbered from zero to nine and this numbering is maintained throughout for the chain of apparatus that originates with the code character and ends with the translating device. This apparatus repeats for each position of the base so that a description of the operation of one circuit is sufiicient for the repeating circuits that follow. A code is established when each character of the code system on the transverse-line energizes its controlling circuit and several characters may operate in this way at the same time.

A bank or relays is provided for the code, one

- relay corresponding to each position of the code.

Each relay when energized energizes a corresponding coil of the motorstat to stop it in a positionthat will correspond with this relay and in turn correspond with the location of the code character on the base.

When the code is to be translated into a series of numbers following each other a separate translating device may be used for each number operated by asingle bank of relays, said translating device being selectively brought into operation in cooperation with the code character to be registered.

A code system with a single base and with a single bank of decoding relays may be used to locate a plurality of code characters provided they are arranged in ascending order or descending order so that they do not become misplaced on the base of the code. By the use of a supplementary base this arrangement may be applied for decoding in both ascending and descendin orders.

Decoding a. code using one character on the base The system shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is an arrange- I ment for decoding a code in units, tens and hundreds in which only one character is used in the code base at a time. The system comprises a bank of ten decoding relays for the units indicated by H, a second bank of ten decoding relays for the tens, indicated by l2, and a third bank of ten decoding relays for the hundreds,

indicated by I3. A row of contact'flners l4 are provided, one for each position of the base running from to 9 and each finger is connected by a conductor I5 to the corresponding relay of the bank for the particular code.

The base of the code is indicated by the figures opposite l6 and the reading of any particular code on the transverse lines is indicated by the figures on the side row opposite ll. Each figure corresponds with the base character which effectively engages the corresponding contact finger I4 and is indicated by [8. It will be convenient in glzes conductor 22 and conductor 25. Conductor 25 connects through a back contact 28 to the contact finger of each of the bank of relays, ll, I2 and I3, the relay contacts being connected in multiple circuit, in the deenergized position to the source of alternating current. A full wave rectifier 23 is connected across the mains 22, 26 of transformer 2i and through conductor 24 and connection 29 establishes a circuit through each of the contacts 21 of the bank of relays I, I2 and I3 in the energized position so that energizing any of these relays changes the circuit controlled by the relay contact 21 from the source of alternating current to the unidirectional current from rectifier 23.

A circuit on conductor 30 is provided from the pivot end of the contact finger 21 of each relay to a terminal board 33 for the hundreds and provided with terminals numbered corresponding to the relays of the bank. A similar terminal board is provided at 32 for the relays in the bank l2 and another similar terminal board is provided at 3| for the relays in bank ll.

A rotary responsive device known as a motorstat is provided at 34 and connected with the terminal board 3| to indicate units, a second motorstat is provided at 35 and connected with the terminal board 32 to indicate tens and a third motorstat is provided at 36 connected with terminal board 33 to indicate hundreds. Each motorstat comprises a non-magnetic rotor 31, usually made of aluminum, and having a magnetic insert at 43 which as the rotor rotates registers with each pole of the stator indicated by the numerals 0 to 9. The stator may be energized with alternating current to drive the rotor 31 and provided with any phase splitting arrangement that is commonly used in motors of this kind. In the drawings a shading coil 40 is provided for this purpose. The poles 39 of the stator have a common return circuit on conductor 4|, connecting to 26 and on conductor 26', also connecting to 26. Each coil of the stator is connected by conductor 42 with the corresponding terminal of the terminal board. When all the relays of thebank which controls one of these devices are deenergized all the coils are energized with alternating current and the rotor is driven thereby. When one of these relays is energized the coil which it controls is disconnected from the source of alternating current and connected with v the source of direct current. The pole of the stator energized by this coil is energized with'one polarity and attracts the magnetic device 43 when it comes into register with this pole, thereby stopping the rotation of the rotor at a point selected by the particular pole which is energized and which in turn is determined by the position of the 'code character on the base. The return conductor 26 connects to transformer 2| and also to rectifier 23 thus forming the return circuit for both the alternating and direct current. The operation of this system will readily be understod by considering the code on the first line in Fig. 1 which reads I and energizes relay I of bank l3 which energizes pole i of the stator 36 with direct current and positions this device to read 1. The second code, Fig. 2, reads 5 and energizes relay 5 of bank l2 which energizes coil 5 of stator 35 with direct current and positions this device to read 5; also Fig. 3 reads code '5 on the first line and energizes coil 5 of device 34 to produce a corresponding reading by this device. The code thus set up is represented by and this reading is produced by the translating devices 34, 35 and 33. The code in the second line in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 reads 4| 8 and the devices 34, 35 and 36 set up this answer when these, codes are brought into operation. If these codes are placed on a card it is apparent that each card can be decoded by itself into the figures from which the code was derived. In this arrangement it will be noted that the translating devices 34, 35 and 36 are independently operated and may operate at the same time and the code is not restricted to an ascending or descending order of numbers.

Decoding a plurality of codes progressively In Figs. 5 and 6 the translating devices producing the final answer are not operated at the same time but instead are operated progressively to read units, tens and hundreds and are operated by a single bank of decoding relays controlled by a selective arrangement.

The code Fig. 5 is provided with selective contacts indicated by U, T and H, one for each code and a corresponding set of contact fingers U, T and H are provided to be energized by the con tacts of the code. A contact finger U connects by conductor 44 with the selective relay 45; contact finger T connects by conductor 46 with selective relay 4'! and contact finger H connects by conductor 48 with selective relay 45. The selective relays control the translating devices 34, 35 and 36 on their return circuit by conductor 26H for device 36 which through contact finger 52 of relay 49 in the energized position connects to the common conductor 26. Conductor 2ST for device 35 connects through contactor Si in the energized osition to the common conductor 26 and conductor 26U connects the return circuit of device 34 through contact finger 50 in the energized position to conductor 26.

The translating devices 34, 35 and 36 are com nected in multiple circuit with the contact fin gers 21 of the bank of decoding relays t 3, through conductor 36, branch 30a to 3d, branch 30b to 35 and branch 300 to 36. Each relay energized changes the circuit for a coil of the devices 34, 35 and 36 from the alternating current source on Wire 25 to wire 24 and the battery 23a.

In operation it will be noted that the code set up on the first transverse line in Fig. 5 is indicated by l and energizes relay l and at the same time contact finger H is energized and relay 49, which closes the return circuit of device 36, while the return circuit of devices 34 and 35 remains open. In this position device 36 is set to indicate code I and then the code is advanced to the secnd line which brings the character 3 into circuit and energizes relay 3 and, at the same time, contact finger T is energized with relay 41 which closes the return circuit of device 35 while the return circuit of 34 and 36 remains open. This causes the device 35 to register the code 3. When the code is advanced to the third line the character operates to energize relay 5 and the contact finger U is energized with relay 4-5 which sets up the return circuit for device 34 while the return circuit of 35 and 36 remains open. In this way the code 135 is registered progressively through the same bank of decoding relays. In the same way any code may be registered by the translating devices and the code is not restricted to an ascending or descending order of numbers. The relays 45, 41 and 49 also control the alternating current from the transformer 2| on the return circuit 26, so that the devices 34, 35 and 36 are first positioned by the alternating current and then stopped by the direct current ln the selected position.

Decoding a code with a plurality of characters and it application in Fig. 8. This code has a base with ten positions running from 0 to 3 and two additional positions indicated by a and b. Three characters are located on th base in the various positions to establish the code and each code must have at least one character in a different position from all the other codes.

This code starts at 0 and goes to 9, it omits l6 and runs from H to l9 where it omits 20 and 2| and then runs from 22 to 29, etc., the omitted numbers being indicated at w, 11 and z. The reason for these omissions arise from the fact that the numbers have to be applied in ascending order as the same base is used for units, tens and hundreds. The tens and hundreds are indicated by a and b and the units by the numeral from 0 to 9 and each time that 3 is reached by the units the tens or the hundreds are advanced one andas this advance is maintained the corresponding positions for the units is taken up so that these figures of the lower order have to be omitted. This code, as indicated at the right hand end of Fig. 7, runs to 185.

A bank oi relaysll is provided to correspond with the positions on the base of the code and relays a and b are added, connecting with the contact fingers a and b. The bank of relays ll control a repeating circuit by the contact fingers 55, 56 and 51 or each relay, which, through conductor 58 repeats from relay to relay on the first row 01' fingers, through conductor 53, repeats from relay to relay on the second row of fingers and through conductor 65 repeats from relay to relay on the third row of fingers. When any relay is energized the conductor 6! at that relay transfers the circuit from the first row of fingers to the second row of fingers, also conductor 62 transfers the circuit in the second row of fingers to the third row of fingers. The first row of fingers 55 at each relay connects by conductor 63 with the terminal board 33 the second row of fingers 56 at each relay connects by conductor 64 with the terminal board 32 and the third row of conductors 51 connect by conductor 65 with the terminal board 3!. The terminal boards are operatively connected to the translating devices as indicated in Fig. 4.

The position of the relays with reference to the position of the code characters on the base of the code starts from the left and the operation of the translating devices operated by the relays is determined by th order in which the relays are energized from the left. The first relay in the bank that is energized from the left energizes a circuit connected with terminal board 33 through its first contact 55. The circuits on conductor 64 and 65 at this relay are not established. The second relay in the bank that is energized establishes the circuit on conductor 64 to terminal board 32, while the circuits on conductors 63 and 65 of this relay are open and the third relay in the bank that is energized establishes the circuit through conductor 65 to terminal 3| while conductors 63 and 64 at this relay are open. N0 circuit can be established by energizing more than three relays when three characters are used in the code.

It a code reading in units is to be established the tens and hundreds should indicate for this reason the first contact of relays a and I) connect to the fi coil. Relay 0 when energized connects to the 0 coil on terminal 3| but this circuit can be established only when relay a and b are energized.

The units code is indicated by the base It while the tens code is indicated by Ida and as 0 in this code begins opposite I) this code is displaced by one number with reference to code i6 so that tens are read from the figures in Mia and the units from figures in N. v

The operation will be understood by considering code i. In this code contact fingers a and b are energized and contact finger 7 in the units code which energizes relays a, b and l. a and b restore the translating device connected to the tens and hundreds to 9 while I energizes coil 7 of the units translating device and registers this number. If the code is 658, relay 8 is energized to register the units, relay 4 which is opposite contact 5 in th tens is energized and relay 2 which is opposite coil 6 in the hundreds is energized. These relays operate the translating devices 34, 35 and 36 to register the numbers which correspond with the code and are obtained from the base of the code.

This provides a relatively simple method of decoding a system that runs into a large number of codes but is limited to numbers arranged either in ascending or descending order. A code translated by the devices 34, 35 and 36 may be scrambled into a code of another type, for instance using letters instead of figures to designate the code and which may be retransmitted in this form.

Decoding with code numbers in ascendin and descending order The code system in Figs. 9, and 11 operates similarly to Figs. 7 and 8 but by the use of an auxiliary base the code between the tens and the units operates in both ascending and descending orders. In Fig. 9 the units code is read by the numbers opposite l6 and also by the corresponding numbers in Fig. 10 at the base of the code; the tens are read by the numbers opposite Isa and the hundreds are read by the numbers opposite l6b. Since the code starts opposite the base lines a, b and 0 representing 0 in the code and in Fig, 9 the code characters move progressively across the base, the units first, followed by the tens and then by the hundreds, it will be seen that the reading for the position of the tens and hundreds is displaced successively by one position in the code so that, for instance, a units code in position 3 in the units corresponds to position 4 in the tens and to position 5 in the hundreds. The indicators of the code base at l6, Ilia and Nb are for convenience in explaining the operation.

A bank of decodin relays H are each connected by the conductors IS with the contact fingers H to operate each relay by its corresponding character in the code. Also a second bank of relays llb are provided and operated by the contact fingers l4 according to the position of the characters in the base of the supplementary code, Fig. 10.

When the code numbers occur in ascending order from the units to the tens and the tens to the hundreds the code is registered by the relays II, the operation corresponding to Fig. 8. The

missing code between l8 and 22 appears at 20- and ii in the supplementary code, Fig. 10, also the missing code 30, 3| and 32 between 29 and 33 appears in Fig. 10. The part of the code that appears in Fig. 10 applies to the units only and this part operates in conjunction with the tens and hundreds in Fig. 9.

In the operation for the code appearing in Figs. 9 and 10, two of the relays in bank M are energized by the tens and hundreds characters in code 9 and one relay in Nb is energized by the code character in Fig. 10. The bank contact of relay 9 in bank H at 57 connects with conductor 10 which energizes contact finger ll of the first relay in bank lib and by conductor 13 i repeated from relay to relay in this bank until an energized relay is reached at which point the conductor 12 connects to terminal board 3i and energizes the corresponding coil of the translating device to indicate units. The code characters in the supplementary base II] are of'a lower order than the code characters for the units in Fig. 9. It will be noted that codes between the units and ,tens can be applied in both ascending and descending orders.

In general the decoding systems herein described can be applied to apparatus operated mechanically as well as by the electric system shown and a full range of equivalents is contemplated by the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A de-coding system comprising a base having aplurality of positions for the characters of the code, means for establishing a code by the location of the code character on said base, a bank of relays, one for each position of the code, means for establishing the circuit of each relay by thecode character having the location on the base corresponding to the relay, a rotary de-coding device controlled by said relays having driving means, and means controlling said rotary device by said relays to stop said device in a position corresponding with the relay that is energized.

2. A de-coding system comprising a base having a plurality of positions for the characters of the code, means for establishing a first code by the location of the first character on said base, means for establising a second code by the location of the second character on said base, a first bank of relays, one for each positon of the first code, a second bank of relays, one for each position of the second code, means for establishing the circuit of each relay in the first bank by the code character of the first code having the location on the base corresponding with the relay, means for establishing the circuit of each relay in the second bank by the code character of the second code having the location on the base corresponding with the relay, a rotary de-coding device controlled by each bank of said relays, and means for stopping said rotary devices in positions correspondin with the relays that are energized in each bank.

3. A de-coding system comprising a base having a plurality of positions for code characters in a row, means for establishing a first code by a character in the first row, means for establishing a second code by a character in the second row, a bank of relays, one for each position of the code, means for establishing the circuit of each relay by the code character having the location on the base corresponding to the relay, for one row at a time, a decoding device having positions corresponding with the positions of said base, means foroperating said device to a position corresponding with the relay that is ehergized by the code character, and means for changing the operation of saidrelays Iromthe "a row, means for establishing a first code by a character in the first row, means for establishing a second code by a character in the second row,

I abank of relays, one for each position of the code, means for establishing the circuit oteach relay by the code character having the" location on the base corresponding to the relay for one row at a time, a ole-coding device for each row of characters each having positions corresponding with the'positions of the base, means for operating the first device to a position corresponding with the relay that is energized by the code characters of the first row, and means for changing the operating of said relays to operate the second device in response to the relay that is energized in the second row.

5. A de-coding system comprising a base having ten positions for code characters, three code characters arranged on said positions to establish the code desired, a bank of ten relays, one for each of the positions of said base, means for selectively operating three of said relays by said code characters according to their location on the base, and a responsive device operated by any three of said relays energized and selectively de-coding all the codes set up by said charac ters.

6. A de-coding system comprising a base having ten positions for code characters, three codecharacters arranged on said positions to establish the code desired, a bank of ten relays, one for each of the positions of said base, means for selectively operating three of said relays by said code characters according to their location on the base, a responsive device for reading the code having three elements, means for operating the first element by the first relay of said bank from the entering end that is energized to a position corresponding with the relay in the bank, means for operating the second element by the second relay of the bank that is energized to a position corresponding to the position of the relay in the bank and means for operating the third element by the third relay energized to a position corresponding to the position of this relay in the bank.

7. A de-coding system comprising a base having ten positions for code characters, two code characters arranged on said positions to establish the code desired, a bank of ten relays, one for each of the positions of said base, means for selectively operating two of said relays by said code characters according to their location on the base, a responsive device for reading the code having a first element representing units and a second element representing tens and means operating the first element by the first relay of the bank that is energized and operating the second element by the second relay of the bank that is operated.

8. A de-coding system comprising a base having a plurality of positions, one code character located on said base representing units, a second code character located on said base representing tens and a third code character located on said base representing hundreds, said code characters being arranged in ascending order, a bank of relays, one for each position oi. the base, means for --selectively energizing a first relay of the bank in accordance with the position of thelunits character, means for selectively energizing a. second relay of the bank in accordance with the position of the tens character and means for selectively energizing a third relay of the bank in accordance with the position of the-hundreds character on the base, and a translating device operated by the first relay to indicate the units, by the second relay to indicate the tens and by the third relay to indicate the hundreds.

9. A de-coding system comprising a base hav-, ing a plurality of positions, one code character located on said base representing units, a second code character located on said base representing tens and a third code character located on said base representing hundreds, said code characters being arranged in ascending order, a second base supplementaryto the first base, supplementary code characters on the second base arranged in descending order, a bank of relays for each position of the first base, a supplementary bank of relays for each position of the supplementary base, means "for selectively energizing a first relay of the bank in accordance with the position of the units character, means for selectively energizing a second relay of the bank in accordance with the position of the tens character and means for selectively energizing a third relay of the bank in accordance with the position of the hundreds character on the base, means for energizing a relay in the supplementary bank by the character in the supplementary base and means for registering the code in ascending order in the first base and for registering the code in descending order in the supplementary base.

10. A de-coding system comprising a main base having a plurality of positions, one code character located on said base representing units, a second ascending order relative to the other on the base,

a supplementary base having a plurality of positions, a code character located in said supplementary base in descending order from one of the characters in the main b'ase, means controlled selectively by said characters, and translating means operated by said control means to indicate the code established by said characters when arranged both in ascending and descending order.

11. A de-coding system comprising a bank of relays normally deenergized and corresponding with the number of positions in the code, means for energizing each relay by a code character corresponding with its position in the code, and a translating device selectively operated by said relays and operated to a position to indicate hundreds by the first relay of the bank that is energized, operated to a second position to indicate tens by the second relay of the bank that is energized and operated to a position to indicate hundreds by the third relay of the bank that is energized.

vice to indicate tens and the third relay from the entering side operating said device to indicate units,,the operation of the device by the following relays being dependent upon the operation of the preceding relays.

13. A de-coding system comprising a bank of relays normally deenergized and corresponding with the number of positions in the code, means for energizing each relay by a code character corresponding with its position in the code and for energizing three of said relays at a time, a second the first bank.

14. In a decoding system, means for recording two codes in the order of units and tens, a bank of ten relays for each code selectively controlled by the codes, a translating device operated by the relays controlled by the units code and an independent translating device operated by the relays controlled by the tens code to decode the codes into the subject originally recorded by the codes.

15. In a decoding system, means for recording a code, a plurality of rotary means for decoding said code, means for continuously driving said rotary means, and means controlled by the code for stopping the rotary means at positions selected by the code for decoding purposes.

16. In a decoding system, means for recording three codes, a bank or relays for each code selectively controlled by the codes, and a translating device for each code controlled by the relays for the code, said translating devices operating independently for each code. r

17. In a decoding system, means for recording a code having three changeable characters representing the subject coded, a bank of relays selectively controlled by said characters, three translating devices, one operated by the relays responsive to the first character, the second operated by the relays responsive to the second character, and the third operated by the relays responsive to the third character for reproducing the subject coded.

18. In a decoding system, means for recording a code having changeable characters that can be adjusted to represent any number of two figures, a bank of relays selectively controlled by said characters, and two translating devices independent of each other operated by said relays to positions corresponding with the code and having figures thereon for reproducing the numbers coded.

19. In a decoding system, means for recording a code on a first base, means for recording a code on a second base, a bank of relays selectively responsive to the code of the first base, a second bank of relays selectively responsive to the code of the second base, and a translating device operated independently by the relays controlled by the first base, or by the relays controlled by the second base.

' MA'I'I'HEW H. LOUGHRIDGE. 

